Closure for handbags and the like



Feb. 28, 1961 E, N. GRAHAM 2,973,023

CLOSURE FOR HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1959 INVENTO R f2 11Min/V rKd/M 22 67 ATH-ORNEY United States PateiitO CLosURE FOR HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE Elizabeth N. Graham, 834 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Aug. 19, 1959, ser. No. 834,807

s claims. (c1. 15o- 42) anism possesses the disadvantage of not affording a positive opening. of the handbag which may be accidentally` o r surreptitiously opened and the contents of the handbag made fully acceible. There have been devices employed and `proposed for effecting a positive locking o'f the handbag or pocketbook, but these have been generally awkward, inconvenient and unattractive, and have otherwise left much to be desired.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle latching device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide animproved latching mechanism for handbags, pocketbooks, and the like.

Still anothenobject of the -present invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism for handbags and pocketbooks which affords a positive locking of the handbag, and in which accidental opening is highly unlikely.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved handbag latching mechanism of the above nature, ycharacterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, low cost and?attractive-appearance. l

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a handbag embodying the present invention, illustrated in open position, and partially broken away yfor convenience of illustration;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the handbag latching mechanism in closed position, illustrated partially broken away and partially in section;

Figure 3 is a top plan fragmentary view of the latching mechanism during the locking thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 4 4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 in Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latohing member.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision in a handbag, pocketbook or the like of a pair of hinged first and second complementary frame members relatively movable between a closed and opened position, the frame members including first and second cross bars and end legs depending therefrom and pivoted at their lower termini, channel-shaped iirst and second track members mounted on said rst and second cross bars respectively and disposed in substantially aligned end-toend arrangement when said frame members are in closed position, with each of said track members including a base web having upstanding side walls provided with inwardly directed legs, and there being an elongated latch member slidably registering with said first track and longitudinally movable therein into locking slidable engagement with said second track to effect a locking of said,

frame members in closed position, with said latching member having a leading end which is transversely cammed-so as to engage the side of said second track.

adjacent the inner end thereof thereby to urge said tracks into alignment uponmovement of said latching member-y toward locking engagement with said second track.

` Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates a pre-A ferredembodiment of the present invention, reference -inverted U-shaped frame members 14 and 16 respectively, including upper cross-pieces 18 and 20, which arel provided with depending side arms 22 connected at their lower ends by headed pivot pins 24. The cross piece yand side arm components of each frame member are channel-shaped having outwardly directed legs and inner base portions` and are preferably each integrally formed. of metal. The frame members 14 and 16 are mutually swingable between a closed position wherein the frame channel base portions are in abutment and. an open posi tion wherein the `frame members 14 and 16 *forma"f dihedral anglek aifording an opening for access into the' interior of the handbag.

Bag portion 13 may be formed of leather, fabric, plastici, o r other -suitable material, and includes front and rear walls 26 and gusset shaped end walls 28. 'Ihe side and lower edges of end walls 28 are secured to the side edges". of front and rear walls 26, the bottom edges of which1 The upper borders o-f front. if'. and rear walls 26 are sandwiched between the channel' legs of cross-pieces 18and 20, and aiixed therein, where, as the inner borders of end walls 28 are sandwiched be tween the channel legs of frame member arms 22 and.

are secured to each other.

affixed therein.

In order to releasably latch frame members 14 and 16 in closed position, there are provided a pair of iirst and second tracks 30 and 32 respectively. Track 30 is mounted on the top face of cross-piece 18 and extends longitudinally from an end thereof approximately two-thirds the length of the cross-piece 18. Track 30 includes a at bottom web 34 superimposed on the top face of crosspiece 18, and suitably secured thereto, the outer edges of the web 34 approximately coinciding with the outer edge of cross-piece 18 and the web 34 projecting inwardly beyond the cross-piece inner edge a distance approximately equal to the width of the cross-piece 20. Located along the longitudinal edges of web 34 are upright walls 36, terminating in inwardly directed lips` 38. Track 32 is similar in configuration to track 30 and exten-ds from the opposite end of the cross-piece 20 approximately onethird the length thereof. The outer edge of the bottom web 34 of track 32 approximately coincides with the corresponding edge of the cross-piece 28, and the web projects inwardly fnom the cross-piece 20 a distance about equal to the width of the cross-piece 18. Thus, when the frame members 14 and 16 are in closed position, the tracks 30 and 32 are in end-to-end alignment.

A latch member 40 slidably registers with track 30, and comprises an elongated strip 42 including a fiat substantially rectangular bottom web 44 having a leading inner corner cut-out as at y46. Projecting from the longi- .Pafenied Feb. as, 1951.

3 tndinal side edges of the web 44 are upstanding parallel walls terminating in inwardly directed lips 50. The strip 42 nests in track 30 and is movable along the length thereof. .l t

A linger piece 52 is formed integrally with the web 44 and projects upwardly from the vleading edge thereof. Finger piece 52 includes anupwardly curved base portion 54 extending from the front inner corner 48 of web 44V to a point inwardly of the opposite corner thereof. Proiecting inwardly from` base portion 54 is a horizontal arm 56 substantially coplanar with lips 38 of track 30 and terminating in an upwardly directd curved linger 58. The inner side edge 60 of arm 56 is outwardly rearwardly inclined from the leading end thereof to a point adjacent the inner edge of the corresponding lips 38 to deiine a frame-closing cam. The opposite edge of the arm 56 is substantially parallel to lips 38.

A flexible draw-band 63, formed -of any suitable material such as leather, plastic, or the like, is superimposed upon the latch member web 44 being suitably secured thereto and having its side borders underlying lips 50. Band 63 projmts rearwardly of catch member 4|) and terminates in a loop 65 engaging a ring 66 secured to the arm 22 of frame member 14 by means of a second ring 67. A handle 68 of any desired construction is attached to the handbag by means of a pair of metal' brackets 70 mounted at opposite ends of the cross-piece 18 and track 30.

The handbag is closed by bringing frame members 14 and 16 into a closely confronting position whereby the tracks 30 and 32 assume the positions illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. Latch member 40 is then slid forwardly along track 30 into registry with track 32, the cam delined by the inclined edge 60 engaging the trailing inner corner of lip 38 of track 32. As the latching member 40 is further advanced, the cam surface 60 urges the track 32 into 'full alignment with the track 30, permitting the sliding of the latch member 40 into full registry with the track 30 thereby to elect the closing and locking of the frame 12 and the handbag 10. In order to permit the opening of the handbag 10, the latch member 40 is merely slid out of registry with the track 32 by manipulation of the linger piece 52 or pulling on the band 63.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

l. In a handbag, pocketbook or the like, a pair of hinged first and second complementary frame members relatively movable between a closed and open position and including lirst and second cross bars and end legs depending therefrom and pivoted at their lower termini, channel-shaped lirst and second track members mounted respectively on said first and second cross bars and disposed in substantially aligned end-to-endarrangement when said frame members are in closed position, each of said track members including a base web having upstanding side walls provided with inwardly directed legs, an elongated latch member slidably registering with said iirst track and longitudinally movable therein into locking slidable engagement with said second track to eiect a locking of said frame members in closed position, said latching member having a leading end thereof cammed on one side, said side being adapted to contact the inner side of said second track adjacent the proximate end thereof to urge said tracks into alignment upon movement of said latching member toward locking engagement with s aid second track.

2. A handbag in accordance with claim l, wherein said latching member is provided at its leading end with a linger piece having an arm substantially coplanar with' said lips of said first track, said arm having a rearwardly outwardly inclined side edge defining said cammed leading end.

3. A handbag in accordance with claim l, including a liexible band connecting said latching member to a leg of said iirst frame member.

` 4. A handbag in accordance with claim l, wherein said latch. member includes a flat bottom web superimposed upon said first track bottom web, and upstanding side walls terminating in inwardly directed lips.

5. A handbag` in accordance with claim l, wherein said.

tracks are substaniatlly twice the width of said cross bars and overlie said cross bars when said frame members are in closed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,878,413 Leberman Sept. 20, 1932 2,074,133 Rodin Mar. 16, 1937 2,076,654 Lewis Apr. 13, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES 654,880 France Dec. 7, 1928 

